The American Christian Strength in the Midst of the Storm Part 5
We ended the last lesson with a question. What we can do for God? As an American Christian, where can we turn for our strength? Let’s start with some words of our founding fathers.
“No educated man can afford to be ignorant of the Bible”- Theodore Roosevelt
“I Believe the Bible is the best gift God has given to man. All the good Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book” and he also said “But for this Book (the Bible), we could not know right from wrong….Take all you can of this Book upon reason, and the balance on faith, and you will live and die a happier man”. -Abraham Lincoln
Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet anchor of your liberties; write its precepts in your hearts and practice them in your lives.- Ulysses S. Grant
Our fore fathers are instructing – READ YOUR BIBLE. That is one thing we can do. Know God's words, they are our life’s blood. Without it we go around weak, then how can we stand against any enemy?
Matthew 22:29
29 Jesus replied, "Your problem is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God. NLT
Back to a fore father-
“Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be Obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow man; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God…What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be”- John Adams
I believe our fore fathers were wise and just men. They have set up our nation as a wise and just nation under God. We must give merit their words in today’s matters as well as our Lord.
Proverbs 22:17-21
17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge; 18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips, 19 So that your trust may be in the LORD; I have instructed you today, even you. 20 Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, 21 That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you? NKJV
When we know the word we will know the truth in matters. Should we do this or that as an individual? Look to the word. Should we do this or that as a nation? Sometimes we must pray about what we see. In this nation, we are very fortunate to have Authority, not as one person that will rule over us but our Authority comes from the Laws given to us by our founding fathers and the rights given us, our Constitution. In our nation it is the people who make up this great nation.
When we question what is happening now. Are we to blindly follow? For if it is of Ceaser we are to give Ceaser his due. So it is a bit confusing to obey a present governing body that is directly opposite of the laws in many ways to which our founding fathers set up ;which also is our governing body. It is my belief that we must do our best to obey both; to the best of our ability. With the Constitution being the utmost governing body. A President does not trump the respect due the Constitution,it’s obedience is foremost. We must obey the constitution and its laws. We must try to be a light and good citizens following our laws of our nation and God.
We must also obey what laws are set out by this new administration; if in alignment to the constitution; which is our foremost governing body. We must be subject to authorities over us. God put them there wither they are deceitful or not. This administration is here for a reason. I believe we have been spoiled rotten. We have let sin abound in this nation, just as the Children of Israel did before they got enslaved. So this brings us to this verse:
Romans 13:1-7 Respect for Authority
1 Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. 2 So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. 3 For the authorities do not frighten people who are doing right, but they frighten those who do wrong. So do what they say, and you will get along well. 4 The authorities are sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for you will be punished. The authorities are established by God for that very purpose, to punish those who do wrong. 5 So you must obey the government for two reasons: to keep from being punished and to keep a clear conscience. 6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid so they can keep on doing the work God intended them to do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and import duties, and give respect and honor to all to whom it is due. NLT
If we refuse to obey the laws of the land we refuse to obey God. What are the laws of our land? The core is set up by the constitution and our Declaration of Independence. We do not resist anything covered in our constitution and the laws that do not conflict with God’s laws.
We the People of the United States, in Order to Form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, Insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the Common defence, promote the general Welfare, And secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves And our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
In our Bible it also says to humble ourselves.
2 Chronicles 7:14-16 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. NKJV
God answers just as he has in many times past. How does standing firm and humbling ourselves coincide? We have to have a government body over us to help keep order in our society.
We also have a duty as Americans-
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.-- That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.—
Our declaration states we must look out for our freedoms.
It is our duty to protect Americas freedoms.
Lets look at the example of past lessons. Paul was respectful yet stood firm in his right as a citizen.
Acts 22:25
And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by,"Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?"
This was not contrary Romans: 13.
Also, Jesus spoke only when it counted while before the government. If under the law Jesus would not have died because Pilate knew it was unjust but let the law give way to the wishes of the peoples. Jesus knew this had to be, for us be delivered from hell so he willingly took all our sins, all our punishment even though there was no fault in him.
So most of all; we follow the will of God. Then we stick to our rights while obeying our governing authorities in all possible ways. In our Country our laws are established with no respect of person over another. All men must obey these laws from top highest office to bottom lowest citizen. No man is above the law, even our President. Our respect is due our laws. Lady Justice stands blindfolded.The Office is only in respect of the laws. We are to follow the laws of the land and it is our duty to right the wrongs.
Our Founding fathers gave these laws for power to the peoples to live in a free society. You can look at it in another way. This is an Authority given us as Americans, this is our tool. Just as God gave Moses authority in a tool, the rod God used. As God Gives us HIS Word as our authority, as our sword. We are fortunate to have The Declaration of Independence and our Constitution with its Bill of Rights as our weapons against any encroachment of tyranny in this Land.
So here we are, as Moses was; only equipped with two mighty weapons. We have our Bibles with all its instructions and guidance; We have our Bill of Rights, Constitution, and Declaration of Independence. Moses now had a guide to do things God’s way and not just be a hot head. God told him what to do to change things. His heart was for his people and yet he wants someone else to take the stand. And with all this power Our Bible and Constitution we say “ God please send someone else” Can’t someone else take a stand against abuse in this nation and against our peoples? I don’t know how Lord”.
If we continue in apathy the train of abuses will mount and our freedoms will be stolen just as a thief in the night. We must look at the details of our events, not what our society directs as politically correct to look at. In our next chapter we will explore our events today in this nation; how they hold with God’s word, and that of Our Constitution and Declaration Of Independence. What direct steps we can do to impact these events that are happening right now and invading our future and that of our children. Will we Stand Fast and Firm protecting our laws and its citizens? Will we protect and serve our God and Our Country?
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